1 dead, 7 hospitalized after fire destroys Williston Park home

WILLISTON PARK - One person is dead and seven members of the same family are hospitalized following an overnight fire in Nassau County. 

The fire broke out just after 3 a.m. at a two-story home located near Lafayette Street and Herricks Road in Williston Park.

Several family members were in town from India for another family member’s funeral. 

The conditions of those members are unknown at this time, as is the identity of the victim. 

It was a house filled with family gathering for a funeral, but it went up in flames early Tuesday morning. 

Seven people managed to make it out but 60-year-old Kashmira Patel who went back in for her dog never did. 

Now relatives are dealing with an even larger loss and question the time it took for firefighters to respond. 

Family and friends claim there was an issue getting to one of the fire hydrants. 

"They tried to get the water, but they didn’t have enough length of the hose," said one neighbor. 

But Michael Uttaro who is Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal said it didn’t impact their response. 

A total of 60 members from 9 departments helped put out the fire within 90 minutes. 

"When you’re the person of the family trapped minutes seem forever," he said. "The loss of water, the loss of that one hydrant didn’t negatively impact as far as trying to gain access to the fire." 

According to officials, there were smoke detectors in the house. 

The seven survivors ranging in age from their 20s to 60s were taken to nearby hospitals for minor to moderate smoke inhalation. 

An investigation is underway to determine what caused the fire. At this point, officials are saying it doesn’t appear to be suspicious.